Bath Rugby confident injured flanker Francois Louw will be back before the end of the season

Bath Rugby are confident that Francois Louw will play again this season after confirming the flanker does not require surgery on his injured ankle.

The South African suffered ligament damage in the second half of Bath’s Aviva Premiership victory at London Irish on Saturday, March 22 and missed last Friday’s defeat at home to Sale Sharks as a result.

Severe swelling delayed the club’s medical staff from ascertaining a full diagnosis and it was feared that the Springbok international would be ruled out for the rest of the campaign.

But Bath head coach Mike Ford confirmed on Tuesday that was not the case.